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Friends of Regina Turner

$5,390
of $5,000 goal

We wanted to provide an online option to donate if people would rather go that route. Below is the letter that was mailed out to some people and has been posted on the Friends of Regina Turner facebook page. Please feel free to join the Friends of Regina Turner facebook group [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/574072155958128/] and invite others to join as well!

Dear Friends,

You are probably aware that Regina Turner (Leo Najar's widow) was
diagnosed with brain cancer in February. She has two malignant brain
tumors: one in the left frontal lobe and one on the brainstem. Surgery
was performed on the tumor in the frontal lobe to biopsy it and
determine the best form of treatment. The inoperable tumor on her
brainstem remains, but she has been undergoing chemotherapy and daily
radiation to treat both tumors.

Her oncologists will perform a
CT scan 30 days after treatment ends"”the earliest date to determine if
there has been shrinkage of the tumors. Her radiation treatment
concludes this week. She is very compromised and needs assistance,
monitoring, and physical therapy to regain enough strength to live
independently in her own home.

Her insurance is no longer
paying for skilled nursing care, and medical bills are arriving daily.
She is not yet eligible for social security disability, and her
disability income does not cover even her daily living expenses.

Because of the needs listed above, she is currently at Brookdale, an
assisted living facility, on Pine Road in Bay City. She will stay there
until May 17. The cost is $4,100 per month with nothing covered by
insurance. She has just enough money to cover the charges through mid
May, and we have learned that she has a $2500 deductible on physical
therapy before Blue Cross Blue Shield will pick up the charges.

Since Regina has been sick, there has not been a house payment made,
but a portion of the utilities are being paid, since her daughter
Kathryn has been staying there while taking care of her mother. Regina
has not been made aware of the financial situation, since her focus
needs to be on recovery.

Anyone who knows Regina and Leo also
knows the tragedies that have fallen on this family. After Leo died in
May 2011 Regina not only grieved his loss, she was left without life
insurance, with significant inherited debt, and she had to adjust to
living on one income. Cancer was surely not on her radar.

We believe that we must take the following actions:

1. Raise immediate cash to pay for Regina's care and related expenses over the next 30-60 days.
2. Engage a few key local experts (i.e. legal, financial planning,
housing, social services) to help Regina and Kathryn develop a financial
plan for Regina's future. 3. Help Regina make her home a safe environment; for example, structural modifications such as a ramp to her front door, etc.

Regina will not ask for money. We must do this for her. We can hold a
fundraiser, we can pass the hat at meetings, and we can personally ask
for individual donations. We want to do whatever we can to make this
happen.

It is our hope and prayer that between Rotary, Bijou
acquaintances, her employer, Bay Concert Band, her friends, and her
church, we can raise enough money to ensure she has a chance of making
it through this difficult time. People like Regina really do fall
through the gaps in the public safety net. Kathryn has had to return
home to Nashville, and Regina's son is a Marine stationed in Okinawa.
That leaves only her friends to help.

So many of you have
asked how you could help; this is how you can. At the very minimum we
need donations to keep Regina in safe care at Brookdale and then at her
home. If you are able to make a donation of any amount, we have opened a
bank account in her name. The mailing address is below. We will make
certain that all funds go directly to paying for Regina's immediate care
and personal expenses. If you can help in any other area of need (time,
materials, fundraising, etc.) please please contact one of us.

Call or email any of us if you have questions. Together we can do this.